The grieving mother of Antonio Rassi Roque, a young man who tragically passed away last August during his Mandatory Military Service (SMO), has called for accountability from the officers at the unit where the incident occurred. Following the suicide of her 18-year-old son at a military base, Roque took to Facebook to accuse the responsible officers of negligence.
"His death was a preventable tragedy due to simple negligence and lack of care," she asserted. "Why wasn't I informed about what was happening with Antonio Rassi? According to soldiers, not only from Calvary 50, he was struggling with severe fatigue. If his peers noticed his condition, how could those responsible for his care overlook it?" she questioned.
Roque explained that her son, Antonio Rassi Roque, died on August 18, 2025, at the Calvary Military Unit, 50th of 18/64. Despite visiting the unit on the 15th and 24th, she was not attended to. "I returned on September 30, 2025, and initially, they weren't going to receive me. It was only after I insisted and refused to leave that they sent a commission with a lieutenant colonel from the Prosecutor's Office, which has no military connection to the case, as their role is limited to case conclusions," she recounted.
During the meeting prompted by her demands, "a colonel and a lieutenant colonel whom I had never seen before came forward. They were neither the head of Unit 50 nor the political leader to whom I entrusted my son on July 28," she stated. Roque criticized the lack of transparency and demanded a meeting with the officials responsible for her son's care.
Demanding Accountability and Transparency
"Backed by the Constitution of this country, I have the right to request a meeting with the unit's head, the political leader, the platoon leader, and the officer in charge on August 18 during Antonio Rassi's watch," she emphasized. "Where were the officials responsible for Antonio Rassi when he exhibited signs of depression, poor hygiene, and a dirty uniform? He only had one uniform, and the political leader himself mentioned during the first meeting on August 25 that he ordered it to be washed," she added.
Roque believes, "My son's death, labeled as 'by his own decision,' was simply a response to a provoked action within the unit." She questioned, "What happened between 8:55 AM, when my son called me saying he was starting his watch, and 2:45 PM? They know, as well as I do, that something transpired," she concluded.
Rising Concerns Over Military Service Deaths
The case of Antonio Rassi was brought to public attention by the independent outlet elTOQUE last August. In recent years, casualties within this mandatory program have increased due to accidents, untreated illnesses, suicides, or abuse within military units, the publication reported.
Félix Alfredo González, a father who lost a recruit in 2021, disclosed that at least seven young men have died between July and August 2025 while serving in the military. González, who has become one of the most vocal critics of the SMO's compulsory nature, told elTOQUE that Cuban authorities fail to take responsibility for justice or provide reparations to families.
"The government turns a blind eye," he lamented, having long sought justice for his son's death. The tragedy of Antonio Rassi has reignited criticism against the Mandatory Military Service, a policy in place since 1963, which in recent months has even summoned teenagers with severe health issues.
In July, an 18-year-old from El Gabriel, a community in Quivicán, Mayabeque province, died while undertaking Active Military Service after expressing severe pain and discomfort for days, without receiving adequate medical attention from the officers in charge. His parents were denied permission to take him home despite his declining health, they claim.
Various organizations and Cuban parents argue that the SMO has become a hazardous and abusive environment for adolescents and young adults, calling on the state to end forced participation.
Key Questions About Military Service and Accountability
What led to Antonio Rassi's tragic death?
Antonio Rassi's death is attributed to negligence and lack of care by the military officials responsible for his well-being. His mother claims that his condition, which included severe fatigue, went unnoticed by those in charge.
How has the government responded to these incidents?
Critics, including families affected by similar tragedies, argue that the Cuban government has been unresponsive, failing to address justice or provide reparations for the families of deceased recruits.
What are the concerns regarding the Mandatory Military Service in Cuba?
There is growing concern that the Mandatory Military Service in Cuba has become a dangerous and abusive setting for young men, with reports of fatalities due to accidents, untreated illnesses, suicides, and abuse.